Some may see the major label debut of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen as yet another exercise in one percenter privilege. But a true listener will discover the talents of a man who writes solid songs regardless of his socioeconomic status. Working alongside renowned modern-day bluesman Doyle Bramhall II, Allen enlists the assistance of several prolific pals— Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart, Los Lobos frontman David Hidalgo, Ivan Neville, Chrissie Hynde, Derek Trucks and Joe Walsh, among them—to deliver a smooth and enjoyable collection of tunes. It falls somewhere between Robert Cray at his most AOR and Pearl Jam at their most MOR—with a spoonful of sweet blue-eyed soul for good measure—as key cuts like “Straw Into Gold” and “Six Strings from Hell” testify. The fact that profits from Everywhere At Once go to arts and music education makes this record all the more worth checking out.